Family of murdered Englewood mother and daughter fighting against domestic violence

By Stephanie Noda

STAFF WRITER |

Northern Valley Suburbanite

ENGLEWOOD — Gone but not forgotten, the family members of homicide victims Tammy Pitts Gaddy and her 5-year-old daughter, Natasia, are keeping their spirits alive by developing the "T & T Initiative" to fight against domestic violence.

Angele Frazier-Tanner, left, Keith Pitts, center, and Belinda Merritt are relatives of Tammy Pitts Gaddy, who was stabbed to death allegedly by her boyfriend on Jan. 28, who reportedly also killed her daughter, Natasia Gaddy, 5, by holding a plastic bag over her head. The trio wants to form a new organization in honor of Gaddy to fight against domestic violence.

"We can’t turn our heads anymore and act like we don’t see it," said Angele Frasier-Tanner, Tammy’s sister. "We must take a stand and lend a hand."

In what they hope will become a nationwide movement, Tammy’s siblings are creating a "Nehemiah Transitional House," a shelter that would not only help women and children affected by domestic violence get back on track, but also help women who have been recently incarcerated to transition back into society.

Tammy and Natasia Gaddy were found dead in their West Palisade Avenue apartment on Jan. 29. Police have reported that Tammy’s boyfriend, Michael C. Brady, stabbed Tammy multiple times and suffocated Natasia with a plastic bag on Jan. 28, a day before police discovered the bodies. Brady, who has pleaded not guilty, is currently being held on $2 million bail.

Frazier-Tanner, a pastor for Crowned with Glory International Ministries, was already developing a transitional house with members of her church in 2012. The project took on a whole new light, however, when her sister and her niece were murdered. The project is now dubbed in their name as the "T & T Initiative," which stands for "Tammy and Tasia."

Tammy, a member of Crowned with Glory International Ministries, was well liked in the community and was always willing to giving back to others, including feeding the homeless, Pitts said.

"She would help anyone and lend a hand to anyone in need," said Pitts. "What we’re trying to do is return her favor that she did in the community for other people who can not help themselves."

Frazier-Tanner is envisioning a faith-based environment for women and children who would live at the Nehemiah Transitional House to provide a "holistic rehabilitation center."

Frazier-Tanner is connecting with other organizations to create readiness training and placement programs, substance abuse programs, a 24-hour prayer hotline, and group counseling that is available on site. Food and clothing would be provided to those living in the shelter, said Frazier-Tanner.

"We deal with the whole," said Frazier-Tanner. "We deal with the mind, we deal with the body, and we deal with the soul."

Keith Pitts, Tammy’s brother, is hoping to work with local and national law enforcement to create a "domestic violence task force" that would train police officers to recognize and effectively deal with those cases in a proactive instead of a reactive manner.

"When they come to a house and there’s a domestic violence [situation], they should already be equipped and know what to do," said Pitts.

Depending on their financial donations, Frazier-Tanner is hoping to create multiple Nehemiah Transitional House across the nation in areas that have high rates of domestic violence. She is unsure where the first house will open, but is hoping to start in Englewood, where her sister lost her life.

"We will not allow their deaths to go in vain," said Belinda Merritt, Tammy’s sister.

The Pitts family will share their vision of the Nehemiah Transitional House to the public on March 9, when they will hold a prayer march from Tammy’s old apartment at 276 West Palisades Ave. to Englewood’s American Legion Post.

The family is also reaching out to five domestic violence shelters to take part in a banquet on April 13 at the Crowne Plaza, inviting domestic violence victims to meet with others in their situation, gain encouragement, and receive referrals, said Frasier-Tanner.

To donate to the Pitts family’s cause send a letter to "The T&T Initiative," PO Box 5901, Englewood, New Jersey 07631.

Family of murdered Englewood mother and daughter fighting against domestic violence

Angele Frazier-Tanner, left, Keith Pitts, center, and Belinda Merritt are relatives of Tammy Pitts Gaddy, who was stabbed to death allegedly by her boyfriend on Jan. 28, who reportedly also killed her daughter, Natasia Gaddy, 5, by holding a plastic bag over her head. The trio wants to form a new organization in honor of Gaddy to fight against domestic violence.

By Stephanie Noda

STAFF WRITER |

Northern Valley Suburbanite

ENGLEWOOD — Gone but not forgotten, the family members of homicide victims Tammy Pitts Gaddy and her 5-year-old daughter, Natasia, are keeping their spirits alive by developing the "T & T Initiative" to fight against domestic violence.

"We can’t turn our heads anymore and act like we don’t see it," said Angele Frasier-Tanner, Tammy’s sister. "We must take a stand and lend a hand."

In what they hope will become a nationwide movement, Tammy’s siblings are creating a "Nehemiah Transitional House," a shelter that would not only help women and children affected by domestic violence get back on track, but also help women who have been recently incarcerated to transition back into society.

Tammy and Natasia Gaddy were found dead in their West Palisade Avenue apartment on Jan. 29. Police have reported that Tammy’s boyfriend, Michael C. Brady, stabbed Tammy multiple times and suffocated Natasia with a plastic bag on Jan. 28, a day before police discovered the bodies. Brady, who has pleaded not guilty, is currently being held on $2 million bail.

Frazier-Tanner, a pastor for Crowned with Glory International Ministries, was already developing a transitional house with members of her church in 2012. The project took on a whole new light, however, when her sister and her niece were murdered. The project is now dubbed in their name as the "T & T Initiative," which stands for "Tammy and Tasia."

Tammy, a member of Crowned with Glory International Ministries, was well liked in the community and was always willing to giving back to others, including feeding the homeless, Pitts said.

"She would help anyone and lend a hand to anyone in need," said Pitts. "What we’re trying to do is return her favor that she did in the community for other people who can not help themselves."

Frazier-Tanner is envisioning a faith-based environment for women and children who would live at the Nehemiah Transitional House to provide a "holistic rehabilitation center."

Frazier-Tanner is connecting with other organizations to create readiness training and placement programs, substance abuse programs, a 24-hour prayer hotline, and group counseling that is available on site. Food and clothing would be provided to those living in the shelter, said Frazier-Tanner.

"We deal with the whole," said Frazier-Tanner. "We deal with the mind, we deal with the body, and we deal with the soul."

Keith Pitts, Tammy’s brother, is hoping to work with local and national law enforcement to create a "domestic violence task force" that would train police officers to recognize and effectively deal with those cases in a proactive instead of a reactive manner.

"When they come to a house and there’s a domestic violence [situation], they should already be equipped and know what to do," said Pitts.

Depending on their financial donations, Frazier-Tanner is hoping to create multiple Nehemiah Transitional House across the nation in areas that have high rates of domestic violence. She is unsure where the first house will open, but is hoping to start in Englewood, where her sister lost her life.

"We will not allow their deaths to go in vain," said Belinda Merritt, Tammy’s sister.

The Pitts family will share their vision of the Nehemiah Transitional House to the public on March 9, when they will hold a prayer march from Tammy’s old apartment at 276 West Palisades Ave. to Englewood’s American Legion Post.

The family is also reaching out to five domestic violence shelters to take part in a banquet on April 13 at the Crowne Plaza, inviting domestic violence victims to meet with others in their situation, gain encouragement, and receive referrals, said Frasier-Tanner.

To donate to the Pitts family’s cause send a letter to "The T&T Initiative," PO Box 5901, Englewood, New Jersey 07631.